SHUT IN TRAIL

The Shut In trail is as beautiful as it is historic. This trail was originally constructed by George Vanderbilt around 1890 as a trail to reach his Buck Springs Hunting lodge in the shadow of Mt. Pisgah and much of the trail still follows the original path that was created before the Blue Ridge Parkway.

I started the hike at Mt. Pisgah parking area, heading North to South. While starting here is easier, you’ll still gain close to 2300 feet of elevation over the 16.5 mile trail. If you want a more challenging hike, start at the bottom to climb over 5000 feet. The Mountains to Sea trail follows this trail it’s entire length, the white blazes are easy to follow. Camping is not allowed on this trail, so you’ll need to do it in a day hike, or over several smaller hikes. The trail is accessible from a number of crossings along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The trail starts by climbing up and over Little Pisgah, and then begins a winding downhill journey, following near and crossing the Parkway several times. For much of the hike you will follow the ridge line, which will offer you some nice views and nice places to rest. The trail is very well maintained and not overly rocky or filled with roots. Some sections enter small grassy meadows, and on the lower sections there are a few nice waterfalls and streams. As you cross the top of Ferrin Knob, you can see the foundation of the old fire tower that was removed some time ago. Keep in mind that this original trail predates the Blue Ridge Parkway by nearly 50 years! Some of the original trail was removed to complete the parkway, but the route is similar to what is was over 130 years ago and care was taken to preserve this trail.

There are numerous connecting trails along the way, especially as you get closer to Bent Creek. In the fall and winter time, towards the end of the trail you can get a clear glimpse of the Biltmore Estate, and the surrounding French Broad Valley.